A Novel Protein Com1 Is Required for Normal Conidium Morphology and Full Virulence in Magnaporthe oryzae

• DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-23-1-0112
• Publication Date: 2009-12-03T15:34:11Z
• Authors: Jun Yang; Xiaoyan Zhao; Jing Sun; Zhensheng Kang; Shengli Ding; Jin-Rong Xu; You-Liang Peng
• Keywords: Magnaporthe; Appressorium

In Magnaporthe oryzae, pyriform conidia are the primary inoculum and main source for disease dissemination in field. this study, we identified characterized COM1 gene that was disrupted three insertional mutants producing slender conidia. encodes a putative transcription regulator unique to filamentous ascomycetes. The com1 disruption deletion had similar defects conidium morphology were significantly reduced virulence on rice barley seedlings. Microscopic examination revealed Δcom1 defective appressorium turgor generation, penetration, infectious growth. expressed constitutively M. oryzae. Com1 protein helix-loop-helix structures predicted nuclear localization signal sequences. transformants expressing 335-613 –enhanced green fluorescent fusion constructs, fluorescence signals observed nucleus. Our data indicated may encode novel regulates conidial development invasive growth